Abstract

S. Ravikumar1*, M. Gnanadesigan, P. Suganthi and A. Ramalakshmi

Five Indian mangrove plants (Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera cylindrica, Ceriops decandra, Avicennia marina) /parts (hypocotyls, bark, collar and flower) were investigated to evaluate the antibacterial activity against UTIs bacterial pathogens. Sixty nine bacterial strains were isolated from mid urine samples of 75 males and 75 females from Thondi coastal area, Ramanathapuram and were identified by conventional methods. Escherichia coli was predominant (41%) followed by P. aeruginosa (25%), Klebsilla pneumonia (22%), Enterobacter sp. (9%) and Streptococcus aureus (3%). The antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of mangrove plants/parts was evaluated by disk diffusion method. R. mucronata (28%) and A. marina (27%) exhibited antibacterial activity against isolated UTIs. The plant parts hypocotyls showed highest antibacterial activity (38%) against the UTIs pathogens. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the plant parts revealed the presence of active compounds such as flavonoids, anthroquinone, phenolic group, alkaloids, and triterpenoids. The results provided evidence that, the studied plants might indeed be potential sources of anti UTIs bacterial pathogens